Mount Kinugasa

The trail up Mt. Kinugasa starts at Lake Shirakumo, a 20-minute walk from Unzen Onsen, and follows a broad, gentle path through birdsong-filled forest to a summit at 879 meters. The climb takes under an hour and is suitable for families. From the top, the onsen town and its steaming geothermal hells spread out below, with Tachibana Bay beyond. A wooden observation deck now serves the purpose once served by open grassland, when flocks of sheep had grazed the slopes bare, making it a natural sunset viewing spot that locals called Sunset Hill. The campsite and boat rental at the trailhead lake make this an easy base for a longer stay.